Syllabus

A new session of each course starts monthly. If enrolling in a series of two or
more courses, please be sure to space the start date for each course at least two
months apart.

Week
1

Wednesday - Lesson
01

When a manager or supervisor begins to have problems in the workplace, it usually isn't due to any technical skill deficiency. More often than not, it's some kind of communication problem or interpersonal problem. This course will provide you with a great many tools you can use to help with the kinds of real-world issues that arise every day in the workplace. This first lesson will introduce you to some of the basic components of communication.

Friday - Lesson
02

As we begin to identify problems or issues with communication in organizations, it's valuable to have a framework to help us understand it. In this lesson, we'll look at the directions in which communication flows in organizations, barriers to communication, and organizational issues that block communication.

Week
2

Wednesday - Lesson
03

How do you become a better communicator? Choosing the right communication method is a logical first step! This lesson will provide you with some tips for doing just that. We'll also talk about how to listen more effectively-the first step to being a more effective communicator.

Friday - Lesson
04

What we say is only part of what we communicate. The non-verbal message can be just as powerful! In this lesson, you'll learn all about nonverbal communication and some techniques to make sure that you're not sending the wrong message. Then we'll start discussing written communication as well as how to use the writing process more effectively.

Week
3

Wednesday - Lesson
05

Communicating with individuals is a real art--communicating with groups multiplies the challenge! Here's we'll discuss groups and teams and how to best approach them with your communications. We'll also talk about some constructive criticism techniques as well as how to deliver bad news so that it is received and not resisted.

Friday - Lesson
06

During times of organizational change it is difficult to communicate effectively, and sometimes hard to get your points across effectively. People are angry, tense, and anxious, and so are you! In this lesson, we'll look into what happens to the climate of the organization during times of change, and you'll learn how to communicate effectively when it counts the most.

Week
4

Wednesday - Lesson
07

In this lesson, we'll begin to discuss the second major topic of the course: Interpersonal skills. Here we'll go over why these skills are important in any organization and we'll look into a concept called emotional intelligence.

Friday - Lesson
08

Personalities! They're all around us. You have one and so does everyone else. Many problems at work are blamed on personality conflicts. What does this really mean? We'll find out in this lesson. We'll begin by discussing the personality traits of introverts versus extroverts.

Week
5

Wednesday - Lesson
09

In this lesson, we'll talk about an important trait called agreeableness. People can be high or low or somewhere in between on this trait. Wherever they (or you) fall, there are positive and negative consequences, and we'll explore them all in this lesson. We'll do the same with another important trait: conscientiousness.

Friday - Lesson
10

We'll discuss two more personality traits in Lesson 10--neuroticism and openness to experience. As we learned in Lesson 9, people can be high, low or somewhere in between on these traits, too. And wherever they fall, there are positive and negative consequences.

Week
6

Wednesday - Lesson
11

A need for power? Does that seem a bit autocratic to even admit to? Most of us do have at least some need for power, control, and influence. What should you do with that need for power? And do you use your power for good or for evil? Does it have anything to do with being a successful manager? We'll answer all of these questions in this lesson.

Friday - Lesson
12

We'll wrap up the course and our discussion on interpersonal skills with some useful tips on how to use these new skills effectively-not just with your employees, but with your peers and your boss, as well.

Review

I can honestly say that this class has affected how I relate to people on all levels. I find myself applying many principles to my employees. I've also begun changing many of my reactions to my boss. It is so easy to make quick judgements as to people's motives. From several exercises, I've learned that my negative reactions were probably derived from frustration, rather than his intentions. As a result, I'm not as stressed at work.